AUBURN — Flames tore through a second-story apartment on Riverside Drive early Thursday night.

Fire crews from Auburn and Lewiston made quick work of the 7 p.m. blaze at 100 Riverside Drive, knocking down the flames minutes after arriving at the scene.

Early reports were that at least one tenant was trapped on the third floor, but nobody was hurt in the fire, Auburn police Deputy Chief Jason Moen said.

Police said there were people at home when the apartment went up in flames, but everybody escaped without injury.

The three-story apartment house is between Dunn and Brook streets. Witnesses said it initially appeared that the entire building might go up in flames.

“Smoke and flames were rolling right out of the second floor,” said Doug Vallier, who witnessed the blaze as he drove from Lewiston. “The response from the Fire Department was phenomenal. Auburn got here and Lewiston was right behind them.”

Firefighters battled the flames from  inside and from a ladder, knocking down the fire and saving other apartments and nearby buildings. Later Thursday night, fire officials were still investigating the cause of the blaze.

It was not immediately known how many people were living in the building. Police blocked off a section of Riverside Drive while fire crews battled the blaze.

mlaflamme@sunjournal.com

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